The History of a Denver Block
When Edward W. Wynkoop came to the present
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 8 Headquarters
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, Colorado
EPA's new regional headquarters is adjacent
to Union Station, a soon-to-be revitalized
architectural landmark and the focal point for
Denver's growing public transit network. EPA
employees and visitors will have direct access
to the building via a vast array of light rail,
commuter rail, bus and regional pedestrian
and recreational trails. Building features such
as bike lockers and showers will further
promote the use of alternative modes of
transportation.
Achieving LEED Certification
site of Denver in 1858, the area was part of
Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory and occupied
by the Arapaho Indian Tribe. The governor of the
territory, James Denver, named Wynkoop to be
the territory's first sheriff.
Fueled by the mining boom, Denver quickly
emerged as one of the most important cities in
the West, with Lower Downtown, and what was
to become Wynkoop St., emerging as the center
of the growing city. Between 1870 and 1890,
Denver’s population grew from 5,000 to more
than 100,000, making it the second most
populous city in the West.
Denver remained an important transportation
hub and business center throughout the 1900s,
with its downtown neighborhoods going
through cycles of growth and decline. An energy
boom in the 1970s gave rise to the city's modern
skyline, but an abrupt decline led to vacant office
and retail space that burdened the city and
threatened historic buildings with demolition.
Lower Downtown quickly became the city's skid
row, the area dominated by crumbling
infrastructure, vagrants, graffiti and litter.
Today, Lower Downtown, or "LoDo" as it is now
known locally, represents one of the nation’s
greatest urban revitalization stories. Thanks to
the creation of the Lower Downtown Historic
District in 1988, and the construction of Coors
Field in 1995, the area has reemerged as the
commercial, residential and recreational center
of downtown. Virtually all of the 100-plus
historic buildings have been restored and the
area is now dominated by lofts, shops,
restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. LoDo is
once again the thriving heart of Denver.
Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing 100% wastepaper, including 50% post-consumer waste.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green
building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a
national, non-profit organization whose members represent
architecture and engineering firms, contractors, manufacturers and
building owners. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to
sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human
and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings,
energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
While the LEED certification process for EPA's Denver Headquarters is
ongoing, EPA anticipates that the building will be certified as the second
Gold-rated new construction building in Colorado.
Setting a standard for sustainable design
For more information, visit http://www.usgbc.org/
EPA’s regional headquarters at 1595 Wynkoop
Street occupies a prominent location that is
rich in Denver history. In the city’s early years,
the block was a busy warehouse and
transport complex. The Denver Postal Annex
building occupied the block from the 1950s
until its demolition in 2003; its large,
windowless facade, and blond brick
noticeably out of character with the rest of
the 19th century commercial district. EPA’s
new nine-story building on the site
reconnects with the block’s origins and
complements the reemergence of Denver as a
thriving urban center.
U.S. General Services Adminstration
www.epa.gov/region8 www.gsa.gov/r8
 Photovoltaic Panels
Lighting Green Roof In December 2006, Denver
48 solar panels mounted on
Building design provides for 20,000 sq. ft. modular roof system welcomed a world-class addition
A TEAM EFFORT
south corner will output 10 kW
natural light in 85% of floor planted with sedum reduces
at peak sun.
storm-water pollution, minimizes
Heating and Cooling Systems to its downtown, the 305,000
space. Lighting fixtures meet
HVAC system designed for square-foot U.S. Environmental
stringent industry efficiency heat island effects, and absorbs
energy and ventilation efficiency. Protection Agency regional
standards. Reflective surfaces, carbon dioxide.
Environmental Protection Agency Under-floor air distribution
task lighting, daylighting headquarters building at 1595
“EPA's primary goal for 1595 Wynkoop is a secure working space that system delivers heated or cooled
dimmers and occupancy sensors
air to individual offices. Cooling Wynkoop Street. An effort
demonstrates the viability of sustainable designs and features. Our
reduce energy use. between EPA, the U.S. General
collaboration with the General Services Administration and the is provided by an efficient chilled
architects, builders and engineers who worked on this project has led water distribution system. Services Administration, Opus
to a high-performance structure that offers considerable benefits in Steam from local utility is used Northwest, LLC, and Zimmer
terms of reduced pollution and resource conservation. It is a building for space heating and hot water. Gunsul Frasca Partnership, the
that well-represents EPA's mission, and the public we serve.” - Robert E. structure is the product of more
Roberts, Regional Administrator than three years of planning,
General Services Administration
design and construction. The
Shades, Fins, and Sails
"This lease construction project signifies the progress GSA is making in nine-story brick and glass
Interior shades, exterior vertical
delivering high quality workspaces for its customers. The building fins and atrium sails control building is a hallmark of
demonstrates the special commitment critical to responsible daylight, solar heat gain and environmental sustainability in a
development and creating great places." - Larry E. Trujillo, Sr., Regional glare. prominent Lower Downtown
Administrator, Rocky Mountain Region Historic District location.
Opus Northwest, LLC
"Working with the EPA throughout the construction of its Region 8 EPA's Region 8 office works to
Headquarters has given Opus the opportunity to gain better protect human health and the
knowledge about the virtues of sustainable design, the applications of environment in Colorado,
which we, as an organization, can successfully carry forward to Montana, North Dakota, South
Materials Use and Management
developments in both the public and private sectors." - Marshall Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27
Low volatile organic compund-emitting
Burton, Vice President sovereign tribal nations. EPA
interior finishes promote indoor air
quality. Materials used in frame, interior shares this challenging work with
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership Energy surfaces and workspaces include many partners – state, local and
"The new EPA Region 8 Headquarters building gave us the opportunity Requirements corn-based fabrics, wheatboard, tribal governments, businesses,
to integrate an optimistic, high-performance, secure and
Wind Turbines sustainably managed wood, and non-governmental organizations,
environmentally responsible building into one of Denver's most

Baseline
Green Maintenance and Operations recycled glass, plastics and steel. Large
important historic and civic districts. Our design aims to represent the Wind energy purchases will offset communities and individuals.
Extensive recycling program and green amounts of waste – including steel,

+ Lighting
Envelope
dignity, permanence and purpose of the EPA by reflecting its mission, 100% of building electricity use.
housekeeping measures focus on a concrete, bricks, glass and wood - were
its culture and its people, and by furthering the Agency's stewardship sustainable, healthy and productive HVAC recycled throughout demolition and Type: Office Space
of our environment." - Eugene Sandoval, Design Partner work environment. construction activities. Construction: Leased/
The LoDo District, Inc. New Construction
Building Design
“Lower Downtown Denver has been experiencing revival and renais-
“Double-L" floor plan design
Size: 305,000 gross square feet
sance for nearly two decades now. The new EPA building is a welcome Water Savings Energy Savings
addresses solar orientation and of office/retail space on 1.2 acres
addition to LoDo's working space, and is an example of what a modern High-efficiency and waterless Models predict nearly 40%
local wind patterns to optimize
The Anatomy of a Green Building Occupancy: 900 EPA employees
plumbing fixtures will achieve cumulative energy savings
and forward-thinking office environment should aspire to be. Its
compared to current standards energy efficiency. Structural A strong commitment to environmental quality and resource and contractors
location adjacent to a future public plaza and the soon-to-be revital- nearly 50% water savings
ized Union Station makes it an exciting new feature in a prominent compared to baseline. for federal buildings (ASHRAE materials and concrete provide conservation is evident throughout 1595 Wynkoop Street’s Completion Date: December
90.1 1999). thermal mass. design, construction and operating systems. 15, 2006
area." - Fabby Hillyard, Executive Director
Projected LEED Status: Gold